Artes Etichette installs first Gallus Five

Artes Etichette has become the first label producer worldwide to install the Gallus Five hybrid press, with the system now in full industrial production at its facility in Italy following its December 2025 installation.

The press, developed by Gallus Group in collaboration with Heidelberger Druckmaschinen, operates two shifts per day across 15 hours of production and is already running at full capacity. Routine jobs sit at 10,000 linear meters, with runs of up to 60,000 linear meters demonstrating the system's industrial-scale capability.

The installation builds on nearly five decades of experience Artes has with Gallus machinery, including two Gallus Labelfire presses installed in 2018 and 2022 and Europe's first Gallus One in 2024.

'Quality is being taken for granted,' said Luca Airoldi, CEO of Artes. 'There isn't a customer who says, make me less beautiful labels for a lower price. Labels must be perfect, and the Gallus Five delivers the precision required to hit that standard every time.'

The press incorporates the Heidelberg Saphira UV05 ink set, which the company says reduces ink consumption and lowers total cost of ownership through its high-pigmentation formulation. Operating at up to 100m/min, the system offers reduced waste and shorter makeready times. Airoldi noted that a complex job that previously required several hours of preparation can now be started in about 30 minutes.

The Gallus Five is primarily used for food label applications and also supports work in chemicals and detergents, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and durable goods. Its modular design under Gallus' System to Compose platform allows Artes to scale production as requirements evolve.

'Artes Etichette's success demonstrates how hybrid technology has moved beyond potential and niche applications to become a true industrial production platform,' commented Dario Urbinati, CEO of Gallus Group. 'As more customers begin to realize these benefits, we're excited to see this technology drive the next phase of smart, connected printing at an industrial level across the label industry.'